The Somerville Public Library and Somerville Media Center are seeking people to enroll in their collaborative training program for improving people’s digital & technology skills called, Getting Comfortable in the Digital Age. Please help spread the word!

The Senate approved and sent to the House a measure creating the new position of the State Musician Laureate. The laureate, appointed by the governor biennially, would write and/or perform music to commemorate important events such as ceremonial occasions, celebrations and state anniversaries; act as the governor’s adviser in musical matters; and represent the state’s musical legacy.

This bill allows 12- and 13-year-old boys and girls to referee and get paid to referee an official youth soccer game with only players younger than 12. Games would be limited to intraclub/intown scrimmages with no results or standings. The employment would be allowed only with written parental consent, written communications to the parents from the employer about the minor’s responsibilities, the youth’s completion of a job training program and an adult representing the employer at the game.

This bill makes a person who uses an assistance animal eligible for victim compensation if his or her animal is injured or killed by a person. The compensation would include veterinary medical expenses and the replacement cost of an equally trained assistance animal if the animal dies or is too injured to return to work.

The Senate approved and sent to the House a bill requiring the MCAD Advisory Board to include representatives of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning youth, (LGBTQ) community.

The Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee held a hearing on a bill that would prohibit businesses from copying and retaining a copy of a customer’s ID including driver’s licenses. The bill was filed by private citizen Richard Tomczyk who testified before the committee and said the bill is designed to reduce the number of incidents in which personal information has been stolen and fraudulently used.

The Senate 38-0, approved and sent to the House a bill that would make changes to the way public schools are distributed funds by the state. The bill is a response to the recommendations of the Foundation Budget Review Commission that in 2015 reported that the current funding formula and system underestimates the cost of education by $1 billion to $2 billion every year.

The House 147-4, approved and sent to the Senate a bill raising from 18 to 21 the age to legally purchase cigarettes and electronic cigarettes in the Bay State. Other provisions ban e-cigarettes and other vape devices from the workplace and prohibit pharmacies and health care facilities from selling any tobacco products and vape products.